Air spring counterbalance

Abstract

Methods of operating a fluid-based spring counterbalance mechanism for a movable barrier are used to support a portion of the weight of the movable barrier. A jackshaft is configured to be operatively coupled to the movable barrier such that rotation of the jackshaft raises or lowers the movable barrier. The jackshaft is operatively coupled to a rotatable input shaft of the fluid-based spring counterbalance mechanism. The rotatable input shaft is coupled to a flexible-walled fluid-based spring. Applying a first force by a movable barrier operator changes the position of the movable barrier, and the flexible-walled fluid-based spring exerts a second force that supports a portion of the weight of the movable barrier in addition to the first force.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of operating a fluid-based spring counterbalance mechanism comprising a flexible-walled fluid-based spring, the method comprising:
 operatively coupling a rotatable input shaft of the fluid-based spring counterbalance mechanism to a jackshaft configured to be operatively coupled to a movable barrier such that rotation of the jackshaft raises or lowers the movable barrier; 
 applying a first force by a movable barrier operator to change the position of the movable barrier, wherein the flexible-walled fluid-based spring exerts a second force that supports a portion of the weight of the movable barrier in addition to the first force. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of operating a fluid-based spring counterbalance of  claim 1 , wherein the second force supports substantially an entire weight of the movable barrier. 
     
     
       3. The method of operating a fluid-based spring counterbalance of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 identifying by a controller an entire weight of the movable barrier by observing a change in position of the movable barrier in response to adding fluid to the flexible-walled fluid-based spring. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of operating a fluid-based spring counterbalance of  claim 3 , further comprising varying by the controller a quantity of fluid in the flexible-walled fluid-based spring in response to identifying the entire weight of the movable barrier. 
     
     
       5. The method of operating a fluid-based spring counterbalance of  claim 4 , further comprising maintaining the second force by varying a quantity of fluid in the flexible-walled fluid-based spring. 
     
     
       6. The method of operating a fluid-based spring counterbalance of  claim 5 , wherein the varying the quantity of fluid is effected by connecting the flexible-walled fluid-based spring to a source of fluid. 
     
     
       7. The method of operating a fluid-based spring counterbalance of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 measuring by a controller a temperature; 
 varying a quantity of fluid by the controller in response to a change in the temperature. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of operating a fluid-based spring counterbalance of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 measuring by a controller a pressure of fluid contained within the flexible-walled fluid-based spring; 
 varying a quantity of fluid by the controller in response to a change in the pressure. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of operating a fluid-based spring counterbalance of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 measuring by a controller a position of the movable barrier; 
 varying a quantity of fluid by the controller in response to a change in the position. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of operating a fluid-based spring counterbalance of  claim 1 , further comprising periodically varying a quantity of fluid within the flexible-walled fluid-based spring, by a controller. 
     
     
       11. The method of installing a fluid-based spring counterbalance of  claim 1 , wherein the portion of the weight of the movable barrier is transmitted to the flexible-walled fluid-based spring by:
 a reduction shaft operably coupled to the rotatable input shaft, and 
 a translational mechanism coupled to the reduction shaft, the translational mechanism configured to compress the flexible-walled fluid-based spring between two surfaces in response to rotation of the reduction shaft. 
 
     
     
       12. A method of counterbalancing a movable barrier by a flexible-walled fluid-based spring, the method comprising:
 operatively coupling a flexible-walled fluid-based spring to a movable barrier such that a force exerted by the flexible-walled fluid-based spring supports at least a portion of a weight of a movable barrier; 
 securing a quantity of fluid within the flexible-walled fluid-based spring such that the flexible-walled fluid-based spring exerts a desired force when the movable barrier is at a particular position; 
 adjusting the quantity of fluid in the flexible-walled fluid-based spring such that the desired force remains substantially constant. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of counterbalancing a movable barrier by a flexible-walled fluid-based spring of  claim 12  wherein the portion of the weight supported by the flexible-walled fluid-based spring varies with a position of the movable barrier. 
     
     
       14. The method of counterbalancing a movable barrier by a flexible-walled fluid-based spring of  claim 12  wherein the force exerted by the flexible-walled fluid-based spring varies according to a position of the movable barrier. 
     
     
       15. The method of counterbalancing a movable barrier by a flexible-walled fluid-based spring of  claim 12 , wherein the adjusting further comprises adding a fixed quantity of fluid by a controller after a particular period of time. 
     
     
       16. The method of counterbalancing a movable barrier by a flexible-walled fluid-based spring of  claim 15 , wherein the adjusting further comprises:
 detecting by a controller at least one input; 
 effecting by the controller the adjusting the quantity of fluid in response to the at least one input. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of counterbalancing a movable barrier by a flexible-walled fluid-based spring of  claim 16 , wherein the detecting the at least one input comprises detecting one or more of a temperature, a pressure, or a position of the movable barrier. 
     
     
       18. The method of counterbalancing a movable barrier by a flexible-walled fluid-based spring of  claim 17 , wherein the detecting one or more of the temperature or the pressure occurs in response to receiving an input indicating the movable barrier is in a predetermined position. 
     
     
       19. The method of counterbalancing a movable barrier by a flexible-walled fluid-based spring of  claim 17 , further comprising executing the detecting one or more of the temperature or the pressure at particular intervals of time. 
     
     
       20. The method of counterbalancing a movable barrier by a flexible-walled fluid-based spring of  claim 16  wherein the effecting by the controller opens a valve to release fluid from the flexible-walled fluid-based spring or connects the flexible-walled fluid-based spring to a source of fluid.